davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
ONLY AlOcAL AFFAIR.
What the Temporary Head of the knights
Thinks of It

Thinks OF It
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. GA. A. Carlton,
who is temporary chairman of the general
executive board of theKuights of Labor dur
ing Mr.. Powderly illness. said Monday, when
asked what attitude the board would assume
or had assumed toward the strikers: THE gen
sral executive board has not taken any part
in the fight 1t is not their fight at all. All
know about the strike is what have read
in the papers While deeply regret that
the strike has occurred do not think it is a
matter for our Interference Whether
or not the strike was ill-advisei
l am not in position to say.
The result will prove that That it was
clearly illegal, so far as the laws of the
order are concerned, there is no doubt as the
strikers simply called convention of Read
ing employees and ordered the strike without
attaching the responsibility to their national
assembly or consulting any of che officers of
the general executive board Legally, they
have no claim on the order, and as they have
made the strike a local affair | do
not see how their defeat, should they
be defeated, will affect the order"
When asked if he thought the blocking of
the Schuylkill coal system would cause a
serious coal famine he replied; ITO certain
extent it necessarily would, although | aul
not quite certain what would be the effect OF
strike Of the schuylkill miners In the
northern Lehigh and Luzerne regions there
are now 5000 miners at work, while
only l7,WO are on strike. In
the Schuylkill system there are probably
25, 900 miners, but even should they be shu.
off the 45, 900 in the Lehigh and Luzsrne re
gions would still be at work. Whether the
Pennsylvania freight handlers would handle
new traffic to take the place of the Reading
traffic don't know, but l hardly think they
would handle any stuff the Reading striker
refused to move. There would, think, nee
essarily be shortage of coal, but whether i
would amount to famine l do not know"
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27

CHICAGO, Dec. I7.-The flame now burn.
ing at the end of the pipe at the Cooke Brew.
ing company's establishment is stronger,
brighter, and hotter than ever, and has been
examined by experts, who say that it is with.
out doubt natural gas. 1t comes from the
Trenton limestone, which is situated at q
depth varying from 900 to 1000 feet below
the level of the lake. The company has taken
the legal steps to secure their rights in the dis
covery. They will then proceed to develop
their find, and if it is success Chicago may
be said to be on the eve Of a revolution and
numerous gas explosions
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
LOT0S FACE POWDER

For SALE BY THE FOLLOWING DBUGGIsTs
Marshall & Fisher,
Hariz & Bahnsen,
and Frank Nader
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27

1t was too much to expect a radically
honest report from the republican major
ity Of the Pacific railroad commission.
Ex-Governor Pattison. a democrat. re-
commends that proceedings be had at
once by the attorney general for the pur-
pose Of putting the entire Pacific land
grant railroads into the hands of re-
ceiyer. He characteriZes in justly severe
terms the entire system of spoliation to
which the Union and Central Pacific
railroads and feeders have been subjected.
On the other hand, Messrs. Anderson
of Kansas, and Littler of Illinois, join in
excusing and defending the present ad>
ministration of the Union Pacific, declar,
ing that it is trying to build up the cor
poration, and is now carrying on pay
ing business. They join Governor Pats
tison in his severe arraignment of the
Central Pacific administration. but con
tent themselves with certain milk and
water recommendations in relation to the
future.
The truth is that the Union Pacific is
too near and too influential in the baili-
wicks Of both Anderson and Littler The
president was induced to appoint the
tirst-named because he had been ants
corporation on the floor of the house
But Mr.. Anderson evidently wants to get
back there He comprehends probably
that the breakwster is better than no pro-
lection at all when the flood is rising. So
do the railroads, aad they will probably
see that he IS returned when next he runs
for congress in Western Kansas. AS for
the Central Pacific, it is too far away for
immediate injury.
Ex-Governor Pattison has but done his
duty. Whether his recommendations are
adopted or no, it is well to have one fear
less man give full expression to the
honest expression of Indignation which
must rise in the throat Of any man who
had reasonable opportunity of under
standing the full measure of the whole
sale plundering which has characterized
the relations of the government people OF
the subsidized overland railroads. In
any other land than this one, someone
now revealing in wealth would have long
since been in the penitentiary. We are
gratified too, at the fact that the com
missioner who speaks out bluntly is q
democrat.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
PUBLIC OPINION AT PoTTsvILLE.


BE Badly beaten.
PorrsvILLE, Pa, Dec. 27-The railroad
strike continues to be the all absorbing topic
Passenger and several freight trains ran as
usual Monday, but no coal trains The Off
cials Of the company here say they do not
expect sll of the men to go to work Tuesday,
but will operate the road as much as possible
with those who report Forty Brotherhood
locomotive engineers at this end of the line
will stand by the company. The local ma
chi nists and old employees will apply for
train work, but not much can be done on the
road or at the mines here unless the Phila-
delphia end works
Public opinion here is that the men will
be beaten at every point, and that the strike
will lie of short duration, the men are even
now greatly divided on the policy of the
strike. The leaders of the mine and railroad
assemblies were all Monday unsuccessful try
ing to get the company officials to agree to
arbitration. The assembly comprising the
mechanics and laborers employed at coal
and iron shops held meeting in the after
noon and decided that the railroad strike had
no connection with them and they would
work on Tuesday az usual
Twenty-Five Knights of Labor signed their
names to lists saying that they would do any
work that the railroad company officials ask
than
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
KNIGHTLY RANKS BROKEN
THE READING STRIKE NOT AS BIG
ATHlNG AS REPORTED.

Decided Break in the Line of Organization
--Powderfy's Representative Says 1t Is lie
legal and Many knights Refuse to Join
Opinions Expressed That the Strikers
Will Be Disastrously Beaten.
READING, Pa, Dec. 27.-The Reading en-
ployes in this city have decided not TO join
the strike and sent u committee to Philadel-
phia Monday evening to endeavor to have
the employees there return to duty at once.
Philadelphia & Reading officials here are
of the opinion that the action of its employees
virtually kills the Knights of Labor as an
organization; they say they will never recog-
nize them again. The employees along
the main line outside of this city
left their posts Monday morning.
and matters are rather complicated,
although it is claimed that an ample force
of men has been secured to man all the trains
that are likely to be run out for the next few
days There were few assertions of train
hands reported north OF Reading Monday,
but their places were promptly filled by nom
union men, Several telegraph operators quit
work at Palo Alto Sunday night, but other
men were promptly sent there and took
charge of the office. There was very little
doing Monday and it will take several days
before any definite information can be OBJ
tanned. <ssss
The fact that the Reading employees here
refused to strike does not affect the main
line employees, those here are mostly en-
ployed in the shops and on the cross lines
which run out of this city. Many promin-
ent knights regret the stand taken by the
men here They say it has virtually de-
stroyed the organization, and that it will be
impossible to recover from the effects Of
such action Others seem to think that it
will strengthen it. They say the strike
at Port Richmond was premature. and
any person who possesses a spark
of intelligence can not help but see it. 1t is
a local difficulty, they say, and the entire
district should not have been dragged into
it Level headed men are of the opinion that
the trouble will be settled in few days
Philadelphia & Reading officials here are
much elated over the stand taken by their
Reading employees, and seem TO think it will
have wholesome effect upon those employed
elsewhere This, however, remains to be
seen, and it will take several days before the
real extent of the strike will be known.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
A HALF-BREEo,S cRiMiNALITY.
He Disappears and Is Found to Ha,
Been Thief and Murderer.

He Disappears and Is Found to Have
Been Thief and Murderer.
PIERRE. d. T., Dec 27-John Laplant,
half beeed Indian on the Sioux reservation,
has left for parts unknown. Since his de-
parture it is ascertained that he has carried
on a regular system of thievery on the reser-
walton for years, not stopping at murder to
accomplish his ends. He used as tools an
Indian boy and a young Frenchman- His
plan was to ride up to corral at
night, and, while he kept watch with
drawn revolver, send the Indian and
Frenchman in to bring out what stock
be would select 1t appears that he became
suspicious of the Indian, and sent a bullet
through his head, burying his body in a
shallow hole, with his feet and legs partly
exposed. He promised the Frenchman two
horses to keep still about the murder This
promise was not fulfilled, and consequently
he squealed. To substantiate his story the
Frenchman conducted party of men to the
scene of the m urder, where the body Of the
Indian boy was found, only partially COW
cred with dirt and brush
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
LEO HAMtlNE,S TRAVELS.
He is Sort of a Rip Van Wrinkle For Over
Three Weeks.

re Is sort OF q nip Van Wtnkie FOR over
Three Weeks.
CHICAGO, Ill, Dec 27-Mr Leo Hamline,
who so mysteriously disappeared in Novem-
Der and WAS returned to his home Christmas
poise and says the time intervening between
leaving the restaurant on Madison street in
this city and his arrival in New Orleans is
a perfect blank to him
As far as he knew now he had ceased to
live for three and a half weeks, and as one
who upon awakening feels that he has just
retired, SO three and half Weeks after his
departure from Race Bros he awoke and
found himself in a strange place He knew
that he was conscious and among strangers.
he was in a strange street, on his head was a
new hat with the name of a Baltimore halter
in it. He had never seen the hat before In
his pocket he found card of the Everett
house, of Jacksonville, Fla How it got
there he did not know. He stopped
policeman and asked where he
Was Ii was New Orleansi He inquired
about the flight of time. 1t was Thursday,
Dec 22l He did not like to tell the police
man of his experience, so he merely said that
he had friends in New Orleans, and remem-
bered that he had friend in New Orleans,
Mr.. Oterie, whom he had met in Chicago
some time ago. He got cab. drove to a
drug store. got Oterie's address, and found
Mr.. Oterie and Frances Walker, of Chicago
These gentlemen both knew of his strange
disappearance and We're overjoyed 10 SEE
him. Mr. Hamline says that when he left
the restaurant he felt like one who was sud.
denly dazed as if he had entered a strange
house and could not explain his presence,
nor extricate himself from the unusual sur
roundings He stood on the sidewalk q
moment and felt as if he had been
suddenly stunned All about him wa:
new, strange and unreal unfamil lar in every
way. He felt stranger amidst home .sur
roundings, Then there was silence, a for
| getfuness-the spell of unconscious activity
was upon him. He spent about $500 on hi
trip and must have appeared perfectly con
scious, or he would have been noticed ami
| stopped. At New Orleans, before he found
himself" he had registered at hotel and
stayed there two days acting perfectly sane
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
Billings Guilty of Forgery.

WATERLOO. Ia, Dec, 27.-The coroner's
investigation into the killing of Attorney
Kingsley drags slowly along. At the open
ing hour Monday morning Billings was
called to the stand and was questioned until
a late hour in the afternoon. He confessed
having forged the signature Of Lawyer Glib
son to documents which, it is thought, he
intended to use in extorting from Kingsley
his signature to the blank mortgages found
with other papers in Billings possession
when arrested These included a chattel
mortgage on almost everything Kingsley
owned, his books, horses and buggy, his
house and personal property, and needed
only Kingsley's signature to place in Billings
hands property worth several thousand dol
lars 1t is supposed that to secure the neces-
sary signature was Billings errand in Kings
lsy's office on the day of the fatal shooting.
As the investigation proceeds the friends OF
Kingsley are more loud lie their assertions
that the whole affair will vet prove a gi.
gantic matchmaking scheme
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
In we slay Orr ServantsY


The fatal illness of Daniel Manning is
attributed, and probably Justly 80, to the
bad hygenic conditions of the treasury
department building. Secretary Folgers
death was accelerated by the same cause.
A prominent example seems to be needed
10 induce congress to appropriate money
To make the national workshops ft places
to labor in, remarks the New York
Graphic
What better way can be found to spend
some of that troublesome surplus than
that of making healthy conditions where
people work. In that respect. the fed
eral buildings at Washington, or the ma
jor portion OF them, are merely white
sepulchres i" The treasury building
especially the older portion-ls simply
unfit for the housing of those who must
sit al their desks. No private employer
having use for large numbers of persons
of the degree of intelligence required for
departmental service would think OF
their working, as so many do in wash
ington, in small, low rooms. badly VEN
tilated, and always with unfit sanitary
conditions as to plumbing and drainage.
The patent office building is another
death trap in all these respects. As an
illustration of the disregard of such things
an impersonsl employer can acquire, 1t
may be mentioned that the new pension
building, not yet finished, has been &C.
Copied by large force of clerks, &c. for
the last eighteen months or more. They
were hurried into the rooms before the
plaster was on the walls in some cases.
and in all of them were at work long be-
fore the walls were dry. Hundreds of
men and women suffered greatly in con-
sequence of this, and many have had
their health permanently impaired, The
trouble seems to be that men in authority
forget that their official subordinates are
also their equals as citizens, and tina,
they themselves are only agents and moi
either masters or employers. Congress
men would rather gain false reputation
for economy than the better one of favor
ing wise expenditures.
Many years ago when railroad acct
dents were rife in Great Britain Punch
had Leech cartoon of a locomotive
with railroad director and bishop in
front as buffers. 1t was entitled rem
edy. Perhaps some one wants to use MIR
Manning in that way. We object t.
making any examples. Let us exact full
work from our administrative staff, bu
let us see to it they are not murdered b.
sewer gas, stihed by lack of ventilation
CT subjected to the dread of pneumonia
to crafty the vanity or Indifference o
anyone,
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
BISMARCK'S STRATEGY.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION Os THE RE-
CENT EUROPEAN WAR SCARE.

Gotten Up tn Help an Unpopular Military
Bill Through the Reiehstag-scme Re-
Elections on the German saIdier-A Pes
sinlistic View of Germany Faiure-so-
ciaIisni in the Army.
LONDON, Dec PA recent speech OF Gen
Won ScheIendorf in the reichstag is gemer-
ally looked upon as furnishing an expiana-
ton Of The subsequent n'arnist rdmors
which have been agitating Europe for the
past week or So 1t was necessary TO excite
the German mind before proposing snen
measure as that of extending the liability to
service in the landsturm 10 the age OF Is The
minister of wars hints as to the possibility
Of terrible struggle with invading powers
in the near future, his Mandatory aliusions to
native hariihooi and valor, AMI his proph-
ecy of German victory in any coming con-
fiict undoubtedly had an effect in The reichs-
tag, and an influence npoh the committee to
which the bill was referred: but the measure
will undoubtedly increase the secret bitter
ness with which the services is regarded by
the rank and tie A patriot the German sol
der may be, but he hates his arms, his off,
GERS and his duty with an intensity unknown
in any other army in Europe, his superior
education increasing his hatred
By the act of 1874 the landsturm may be
drafted into the land wehr, and liz case of
war the best material would be without
hesitancy, so at an age when they might
hope to lay by their uniforms forever, or at
most be called upon to protect their country
from foreign invasion. the most robust among
them mig ht be forced to invade France or
Russia
Shrewd observers say that when the
dreaded revolt takes place in Germany it
will be initiated by the army. The reiterated
alarm Of foreign evasion has been the
cohesive power which has thus far held the
powerful machine together, but this cry may
become wearisome; and il the German
soldiers and laborers could become satisfied
of the peaceful intentions of their
neighbors there would be a repetition OF
the scenes of lS4S The army is permeated
with Socialism, and any bill like that intro.
duced in the reichstag for the expulsion oil
known Socialists and members of secret So
cieties will be useless to prevent further in.
lection. According tn one of the provisions
Of the bill any German attending Socialist
congress-say, in Switzerland subjects him
self to a severe penalty, his mere attendance
being regarded as proof of the dangerous
tendency of his ideas 1t may, however, rid
the chancellor of some Objectionable mem
bers of the parliamentary body, whose oppo-
sition to his private schemes at times rouses
him to a display of real or simulated frenzy,
which finds response in the fluctuations oil
every tourse in Europe
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27
LEFT HIM TO HIS FATE.
STRANGE STORY OF CRIME AMONG
SHIPWREcKED SAILORS.

One of Them Commits Murder and Is
Abandoned by His Mates on a Desert
Island-Binings Acknowledging Incrim-
mating Fscts-A Tough Haif-Breed-
Christmas Grimes at Various Points.
SAN Francisco, Cal, Dec. 27.-Edward
Olsen and William Timpe, survivors of the
wrecked schooner, Gen. Siegel. who spent an
adventurous nine months on Midway island,
in the south seas, have reached Honolulu
and tell the following story of their expert
ences:
The Gen Siegel left Honolulu Sept l,
1886, on a shark fishing expedition. Her
crew was composed of Capt. Aberdine,
Adolph Jorgent, the mate; Peter
Larkin, Peter Brown, Martin Neil
sen, and Charles Clemens On Sept.
2S they arrived off Midway Island.
On the night of Sept 26 the vessel was
riding at anchor off this island, the whole Of
the crew being camped on shore Toward
midnight gale of wind arose, the vessel
drifted ashore and became a wreck. The
crew thus found themselves cast upon a
desolate island in mid-ocsan, their only means
of subsistence being sea birds and their eggs
and fish.
About ten days after their arrival pain
full accident happened to Larkin. While en-
gagged in killing fish with giant powder, one
of his hands was blown off and he died in a
few days. After this feud appears TO have
risen between Mate Jorgent and the other
survivors Tmpe states that on one occasion,
when he was alone in sheir hut, Jorgent came
stealthily behind him, put rope around his
neck, and tried to strangle him. The lad
called loudly for help when the rope was
slackened and Jorgent desisted from his pur.
pose.
While the captain and a sailor named
Brown were after eggs Jorgent murdered
them. When the others learned of this they
taxed Jorgsnt with it. He said that they had
committed suicide. Olsen and Timpe, the
other two seamen, determined to leave Jor.
gent on the island. They accordingly de-
stroyed the boat, and on June % sailed away
in a scow, leaving the murderous mate to his
own resources They reached Marshal island
after passage Of two months and a halt, bu
nothing has since been heard Of JorgenL
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27

OMAHA, Dec IA Mrs Parker, late
Mrs. Laclsde, Of Chicago, and the members
of the CASTELAR, NJ. E. church are mourning
the departure of man named F. H. Parker,
who was recently prominently identified
with them, but has since disappeared He
came here about ten weeks ago, secured en-
ployment as travelling salesman for whole
sale house and united with the CASTELAR,
church To the members, including Mrs
Laclede, he represented that he was senior
member of the firm for which he travelled.
On Thanksgiving day he and Mrs. Laclede
were married, and he made her deed to the
palatial residence of C. J. Poppleton on
Spruce street, which he had told her he
owned. The church gave some pledges,
amounting to about 500. to him for collec-
ton less than two weeks ago. He disap-
peared, taking with him the money, all Of
which he had collected and some money
and jswelry belonging to his wife. He is
described as man VI stout build, Of blonde
complexion and is somewhat bald
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-27

WASHINGTON CRY, Dec IA large mum.
Der of distinguished persons, including many
government officials, left Washington Mon
day afternoon and night for Albany to at
tend Secretary Manning's funeral President
Cleveland, accompanied by Messrs. Bayard,
Fairchild, Villas, Lamar, and Garland, of his
cabinet, and Col. Lamont, left by the Balti-
more 81 Potomac road at 3:45 in the after
noon. Secretary Whitney, who is in New
York, and Secretary Endicott, now on his
way from the west, will both join the presi-
dent in Albany. The president and his party
occupied special car attached to the con-
gressional express.
In the same train, and occupying Pull
man Immediately ahead of the presidents
car, were seated Samuel J. Randall, Judge
Schoonmaker tof the inter state commission),
third Auditor Williams and f. B. Youmans
A later train at night carried sixth Auditor
McConviIle, Supervising Architect Freret.
John H. Traynor (of New York;, John H.
Walsh, T. d. Keleher, and g. W. Albright,
the last three, fellow townsmen of the late
secretary. These officials will represent the
treasury department and the New York
State Democratic association at the funeral,
in accordance with the expressed wish of
meetings Of the association aud of the treas
ury officials.